This article is part of our FantasyDraft PGA series.
Waste Management Phoenix Open
Scottsdale, Arizona
TPC Scottsdale - Par 71 - 7,266 yards
Field - 132 entrants
Purse - $6.9M
The Preview
The Waste Management Phoenix Open's annual task of competing with the Super Bowl for national buzz is no easy challenge, but TPC Scottsdale has played host to one of the Tour's most electrifying atmospheres in recent years. The course's setup has heavily favored ball striking and diminished the importance of putting, so focusing on stats such as SG: Tee-to-Green, GIR percentage and birdie average will be key when building fantasy rosters. In order to accommodate for such a top-heavy field with five of the Official World Golf Ranking's top-seven players in attendance -- and somewhat of a drop-off after that -- FantasyDraft has priced only 15 of the 132 golfers above the average player price of $14,285 in a seven-man lineup. With so much additional value in the lower price ranges this week, gamers could have extra difficulty selecting between the stars and scrubs approach or a more balanced attack. The weather should be a non-factor as the forecast in Scottsdale calls for comfortably-warm afternoon temperatures, sunny skies and very little wind throughout the week.
Past Champions
2017- Hideki Matsuyama
2016 - Hideki Matsuyama
2015 - Brooks Koepka
2014 - Kevin Stadler
2013 - Phil Mickelson
2012 - Kyle Stanley
2011 - Mark Wilson
2010 - Hunter Mahan
FantasyDraft Value Picks - based on $100,000 salary cap
Cream of the Crop
Jordan Spieth - $17,700
Stacking a couple of the elite weapons will be in play this week due to the aforementioned softer pricing, and Spieth sticks out as a favorable option due to his world-class ball striking. He ranks first on Tour in GIR percentage, third in proximity from 150-175 yards and second in both par-four and par-five scoring average this season. His course history inspires confidence as well, as he owns a pair of top-10s in two starts at TPC Scottsdale.
Hideki Matsuyama - $17,500
Calling Matsuyama a "horse for the course" is an understatement at TPC Scottsdale, where the back-to-back champion has finished 1-1-T2-T4 in four career appearances. He will be the chalk this week for good reason as he looks to win the event for a third straight year. Matsuyama's recent form includes no finish worse than a T12 in his last four starts worldwide, and he currently stands at No. 5 in the OWGR.
Glue Guys
Webb Simpson - $14,900
Earning plenty of attention as a value pick this week is Simpson, who lost in a playoff to Matsuyama at last year's WMPO after the duo each fired a four-round total of 17-under-par. Simpson's improvements with the flat stick haven't gone unnoticed, while he currently ranks 13th on Tour in SG: Total and fourth in scoring average. Simpson has also notched five consecutive top-15s at the event.
Zach Johnson - $14,300
Johnson has now strung together six consecutive top-25 results as he heads to TPC Scottsdale, where he's finished top-15 in each of the last three seasons. Through five starts of his 2017-18 campaign, he ranks 11th in both birdie average and SG: Approach, eighth in proximity and ninth in par-four scoring average.
Ryan Palmer - $13,900
The 41-year-old, who most recently lost in a three-man playoff at the Farmers Insurance Open, also owns a runner-up finish at the WMPO after losing to Brooks Koepka by one stroke in 2015. Palmer ranks top-10 on Tour in total driving and fourth in proximity this season, while he's 31st in the FedExCup standings despite making just three starts.
Bargain Bin
Emiliano Grillo - $12,700
Grillo is trending in the right direction with top-12s in two of his last three starts, while also extending his made-cut streak to nine events. The Argentinian is two-for-two in terms of cuts made at TPC Scottsdale and his game should fit the venue once again as he ranked top-20 on Tour in both total driving and proximity from 175-200 yards this past season.
Brandon Harkins - $12,300
This 31-year-old rookie showed no signs of regression after notching the second top-10 of his PGA Tour career at the CareerBuilder Challenge, as he would go on to finish T12 at last week's Farmers Insurance Open. He's finished outside the top-25 just twice in eight starts so far this season, climbing to 26th in the FedExCup standings. He's relied on an impressive short game as of late, but he also ranked 11th in birdie average and 12th in driving distance on the Web.com Tour in 2017.
Tyrone Van Aswegen - $10,600
Van Aswegen missed his first cut since early November last week at Torrey Pines, but it wasn't by much and his resulting price drop should be intriguing when looking through the range of dart throws this week. He's made the cut in two appearances at the WMPO, and even finished top-20 in 2016.
